He then challenges readers to write five what if questions in the comment section very quickly without much thinking. So this is what I wrote:

what if I stopped blogging?what if I painted my walls white?what if I only wrote from my heart and not to fill in time or space?what if I stopped worrying about pleasing other people?

I have been struggling lately with forcing myself to put out blog posts. It doesn't feel natural and as inspired as usual. I feel like I am in maintenance mode, which is okay, but I desire to do it with passion.

I have felt this way ever since sharing a post about pulling back. I feel like I need a bit more quiet in my life and sitting down to write posts has felt like a bunch of noise.

While I learn this balance of living my day to day differently, my heart and mind are not ready to sit down to blog. And really, this is the first time in awhile that I was inspired by something and stopped what I was doing to write.

And that is because I was inspired.

I have been inspired by a lot of things lately. I did paint my walls white...kind of. But for some reason I have not been inspired to write about them. And I think it is because I have been too busy living out those inspirations.

I want to write a good story for my life...literally and figuratively.

So if it seems quiet around here, or even perhaps that I am not completely myself, know it is because I need to let my blogging heart breathe a little. I want to give it a break so that when it is ready it is fresh and excited.

Perhaps there is something in your life that needs a little breathing room. Give it the air it needs.

I welcome you to also ask five "what if" questions in the comment section below.

And if you are interested, another fantastic thought provoking read on why we need rest and not be efficient all of the time can be found here.

I will hate to see you not write as much, but I can't help but celebrate with you that there are so many other wonderful things in your life that require more attention right now. Lives should be full, and not just with one thing. It is so easy to spend hours on the computer trying to write a people-pleasing post, and then there's the obligation to respond to comments, etc. I feel a lot of pressure with that myself. Blogging and communicating with other bloggers is fun, but when it starts seeming like a chore, it's time to step away for a bit!

Great blog! Thanks for the honesty.1. what if i wasn't on this crazy journey2. what if life was easier3. what if i wasn't living so far from family4. what if i just trusted God right away5. what if i didn't have the best husband in the world?!?!?

Ashley, I love this post... your right, we try to please others and worry what they might think. I too have struggled about keeping up with my blog, but I write it for me...not for others...What if.....1. I didn't stress about a clean house2. I just read a book for an entire Sunday3. I trusted my instincts once in a while4. I actually started to exercise5. I had to change plans at the last minute for someone else.

What if....1. I actually wrote my blog for me and everyone else. Why do I want mine to be like everyone elses anyway?2. I didn't have to worry so much about money3. I just started eating healthy instead of talking about it4. I was not such a procrastinator5. I lived closer to the grandkids

Awesome post!!! I might spin off of this for my next post if I can ever motivate myself to write...

What if I had more time in the day?What if I didn't worry so much?What if my Mom and I had a healthy relationship?What if my work space was really organized?What if my house could stay clean for 2 whole days?????

ohmy. I love Donald Miller and I read the "What If" post too. Pretty good, eh?Anyway, I also have been in a blogging slump. But you're better than I am, because I can't even do maintenance mode. I have photos to share and things to write about. I just...don't want to. So I know just how you feel!

Blue Like Jazz and To Own a Dragon, both by Donald Miller, are really good books.

What a lovely, thought-provoking post. Of course I took the summer off from blogging, though not on purpose, so I'm feeling some of this too. I decided that for me it was better not to write than to force it. I would love to say that I'm now back with tons of new energy and inspiration, but I'm not. I'm back with an appreciation of what blogging does for me, what it doesn't do for me, and an acceptance of the possibility that I may not blog forever. So if you need a break, take it! Of course, this is over a month old, so maybe you're feeling more inspired now. :-) I'll just have to keep reading and find out! xoxo